Wal-Mart expanding in Jax??

[fsujax]

I know this might not be a good thing to share here and I can't believe I am saying this, but this smaller concept could fit Downtown somewhere. I really do not think it would be a bad thing.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536718

[KenFSU]

I think it would be a great thing, downtown or elsewhere.

Bring it on

[duvaldude08]

I know this might not be a good thing to share here and I can't believe I am saying this, but this smaller concept could fit Downtown somewhere. I really do not think it would be a bad thing.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=536718

Honestly, This would not only fit downtown, but is needed in my opinon. There has been many days when I wanted to go to wal mart on my lunch break, but the one on phillips is too far away. If there were one right downtown, It would be an issue. Also, it would serve Springfield and some other parts of the northside that too far away from the Lem Turner and River City locations. We need something like this downtown.

And Plus, it would be another empty lot gone! LOL

[tufsu1]

The Wal Mart Neighborhood Market model is around 42,000 square feet....that's likely a bit large for downtown

That said, the article mentions that they are looking at some of the old Food Lion sites...those are around 30,000 square feet (same as downtown Winn Dixie)....I could see that working....or maybe the 15,000 square feet Wal Mart Express stores

[If_I_Loved_you]

I think it would be a great thing, downtown or elsewhere.

Bring it on

http://www.allbusiness.com/independent-retailer-survival/16639262-1.html#axzz1xgl1tiYJ

[Tacachale]

Forgive my lack of enthusiasm about the prospect of yet more big box stores in Jacksonville.

[dougskiles]

I believe that they have a 27,000 sf urban prototype.  I don't mind them coming into or near downtown as long as the building is designed in an urban context (building along the street, lots of storefront glass, and all parking in the back).

[copperfiend]

Forgive my lack of enthusiasm about the prospect of yet more big box stores in Jacksonville.

You're forgiven.

I am no fan of Wal-Mart but in a blighted neighborhood it could be a harbinger for growth.

[KenFSU]

I'll take economic efficiency and stable jobs over old-time romance and nostalgia 10 times out of 10. Demand for boutique Mom and Pop stores (who charge higher prices) is like any other normal good. The less money you make, the less important is to you to sacrifice extra income to fund Joe Handyman's dream of running his own less economically efficient hardware store. It's adapt or die for all of us in the job market. If his expertise or extra value added services make him more attractive to consumers than the big box, he'll be fine. If not, it wasn't meant to be.

I think the people who criticize WalMart the loudest tend to be the ones who don't have to shop there. Some of their practices are obviously up for debate, but you'll never get me to criticize the existence of a store whose efficiency and economies of scale allow lower income shoppers to keep an additional $2,000 year in their pockets to buy other goods (which also provide jobs). It's easy for Amy Avondale to knock a big box in the suburbs, but for Alan Arlington, it could be the difference between his kids getting Christmas presents or a family vacation in the summer.

[thelakelander]

The neighborhood market concept (a grocery store like Publix or Winn Dixie) would be pretty good for a neighborhood like New Town or Durkeeville. As an urban core site, Brooklyn wouldn't be a location either. However, I suspect all of these will be in the burbs.

[Adam W]

Forgive my lack of enthusiasm about the prospect of yet more big box stores in Jacksonville.

It's a national, even global, trend. I'm not crazy about big box stores, but that's life. Times are changing.

[copperfiend]

However, I suspect all of these will be in the burbs.

I agree. I think the old Winn-Dixie at Baymeadows/9A is probably a potential spot. Same with the old Food Lion on Wells Road and near Queens Harbor.

[fsujax]

Probably so, but one can dream. The mayors office should be all over this. The City could just give them land to build on in downtown or make it a part of that crummy garage being proposed.

[Gators312]

However, I suspect all of these will be in the burbs.

I agree. I think the old Winn-Dixie at Baymeadows/9A is probably a potential spot. Same with the old Food Lion on Wells Road near Queens Harbor.

I definitely think these will be the places they end up as well. 

Although the Wells Rd. Food Lion is soon to open as a Rowe's Fresh For Less Market.

[Purplebike]

I think the people who criticize WalMart the loudest tend to be the ones who don't have to shop there. Some of their practices are obviously up for debate, but you'll never get me to criticize the existence of a store whose efficiency and economies of scale allow lower income shoppers to keep an additional $2,000 year in their pockets to buy other goods (which also provide jobs).

- Which practices are obviously up for debate, do you think? What is your position on those issues?

It's easy for Amy Avondale to knock a big box in the suburbs, but for Alan Arlington, it could be the difference between his kids getting Christmas presents or a family vacation in the summer.

Alan Arlington may benefit in the short term, by being able to provide his kids Christmas presents, or a family vacation. But how might he be burdened, in the long run, as a consequence of more and more Walmarts entering the community?

How do big box retailers affect diverse job prospects in local communities? If Al Arlington's kids don't want to work at Walmart when they get older, what other prospects will they have? Others, to be sure, but could some of those prospects be undermined by more and more big box retailers moving in?

Suppose, for example, Al Arlington's kids want to start a small business, or work in manufacturing. How might those prospects be undermined by more and more Walmarts & other big box retailers moving in?

Consider Don Downtown, who runs a long standing family business downtown. If Walmart moves in, how will Don's ability to buy Christmas presents for his kids, and go on family vacations, be affected?

Should Walmart expand in Jax? Either it should, or it should not. I think both positions can be reasonably argued. In my experience, observing this issue being argued in my ethics classes, it usually boils down to two reasonable values:

Those that argue Walmart should come in tend to base their position on valuing the short term benefits, more specifically, saving money.

Those that argue Walmart should not come in tend to base their position on valuing the longer term benefits, more specifically, valuing diversity / endurance of community resources.

Both values are good values. Ultimately, we have to decide what is more important. Saving money in the short term, or saving community in the long term.

Your thoughts?